Homemade taco seasoning is not only convenient but it also tastes better than prepackaged store-bought mixes. It includes cumin and chili powder along with other simple pantry spices to give it lots of flavor! This mild taco seasoning goes great with not only Mexican dishes but also vegetables when you’re looking to mix things up a bit.

Another huge benefit of making your own taco seasoning is that you know exactly what you are putting into it. Oftentimes store bought seasoning mixes include extra additives and preservatives. I love using this homemade taco seasoning in my Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats, Black Bean Quesadillas, Instant Pot Chicken Tacos and Southwest Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies!
TACO SEASONING INGREDIENTS
Chili Powder
Ground Cumin
Smoked Paprika - you can use regular paprika instead if you don't have smoked paprika
Fine Sea Salt
Ground Black Pepper
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Dried Oregano
HOW TO MAKE TACO SEASONING
To make homemade taco seasoning just follow these simple steps.
Step One: Measure out all of your spices in a small bowl or mason jar. Mix to combine.
Step Two: Store in an airtight container and enjoy for up to 6-8 months.
VARIATIONS AND TIPS
Adobo Seasoning - one of my favorite variations to this taco seasoning recipe is to take out the onion & garlic powder and add a couple teaspoons of Adobo seasoning. Adobo seasoning already has dried onion and garlic powder in it along with a few more spices. It really gives the taco seasoning a great flavor.
Cayenne Pepper or Crushed Red Pepper - want a little more heat? Add a little bit of cayenne or crushed red pepper. I left those out of this recipe because it adds quite a bit of heat, but if you don’t mind spicy food then go for it! You only need 1/4 teaspoon of either one.
Paprika - don't have smoked paprika? You can use regular paprika instead.
HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING
You can store any leftover taco seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry area and it should last 6-8 months. I like using these small mason jars to store leftover seasoning mixes in.
HOW MUCH TACO SEASONING TO USE FOR ONE POUND OF MEAT
For one pound of meat you will need approximately 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning. This recipe batch makes ⅓ cup. So enough for two recipes. Of course you can certainly use a little more or less depending on your spice preference. You can use this recipe for chicken taco seasoning, beef taco seasoning or even vegetarian taco seasoning.
RECIPES WITH HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING
- Black Bean Quesadillas
- Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
- Instant Pot Southwest Lentils and Brown Rice Bowl
BEST HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1/3 cup 1x
Description
A simple homemade taco seasoning mix that's perfect for tacos, fajitas, vegetables or any Mexican inspired recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Measure out all of your ingredients in a small bowl. Mix to combine.
- Use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning per 1 pound of ground meat. Store the rest in an airtight container and enjoy for up to 6-8 months.
Notes
Store any leftover taco seasoning in an airtight container in a cool, dry area for 6-8 months. I like using these small mason jars to store leftover seasoning mixes in.
Feel free to double the recipe to make a bigger batch.
- Prep Time: 5 min
Keywords: homemade taco seasoning, taco seasoning, how to make taco seasoning
Leave a Reply